| Defences against Knife attacks, Firstly if at all | | | | when dealing with knife attackers).We worked this |
| possible get yourself and anyone else out of the | | | | scenario using all the knife defences we had both |
| potential danger area.....RUN AWAY.Yes you heard | | | | learned from many different styles over the years |
| right, run away. This is not a cowards way out, this is | | | | but the one factor that kept coming up was the fact |
| sensible. After all your potential assailant could be on | | | | that this was simulating a real situation, so the |
| drugs or just plain crazy. Nobody needs a dead | | | | attacker wasn't in stance and didn't come with a |
| hero.However if you can't get away or you are | | | | single attack in a straight line, he'd attack several |
| cornered, try to talk your way out of the situation, | | | | times from any angle very fast.What we were |
| tell the guy what he wants to hear or give him what | | | | looking for was something that kept your vital |
| he wants, if it's a mugging, but only if you think this | | | | organs as far away from the knife as possible whilst |
| will pacify him...Let me explain. If it is apparent that | | | | allowing you to attack the assailant.Here's what we |
| your assailant is going to stab you whether you give | | | | came up with: (This is just my opinion, based on over |
| him all your money or not then you must do | | | | 20 years martial arts experience, and this one |
| something about the situation before this happens, | | | | worked time after time. But remember only use as a |
| either way you may get stabbed. Thats why this is a | | | | last resort)First you must take your attackers mind |
| last resort and only attempted if YOU are certain he | | | | off what he's thinking about (I.e. stabbing you !) |
| is going to attack you no matter what.It's a | | | | .........Spit in his face, not nice but remember this guy |
| judgement call that only you can make and if you | | | | wants to stab you !This gives you a fraction of a |
| ever do end up in that situation it won't be easy.So, | | | | second to move.Next, drop to your side, fast ! (Side |
| you're in that nightmare situation. How do you tackle | | | | breakfall) As you do this hook one of your feet |
| him ?Do you use the knife defences you learned in | | | | round the back of his front foot and with your other |
| your martial arts classes ? I hope not because you'll | | | | foot, stamp hard onto the front of his knee. This will |
| very soon be bleeding to death if your assailant has | | | | either snap or dislocate it (Again not nice but this |
| any idea how to use the knife.I tried an experiment | | | | guys going to stab you !) It also doesn't matter too |
| about 5 years ago now with my training partner who | | | | much if you miss with the hook as you can still get |
| is very fast with his hands and can handle a knife. | | | | the stamp in on the knee.Either disarm him while he's |
| We used a dummy knife (Thankfully) with some red | | | | on the floor and wait for the Police or just get out |
| ink on the end of it and I wore a white Gi.I had at | | | | of there, he won't chase you.The fall and hook take |
| this time been training in the martial arts for about 16 | | | | some practice to get fast but it's worth it as this is |
| years and had learned many many knife defences | | | | one well worth having in your arsenal.Any comments |
| from many different styles so I was sure that | | | | or feedback would be welcomedPaul Swift has been |
| whatever he came at me with I would be able to | | | | a student of Martial Arts for 22 years attaining the |
| handle it.He moved the knife very quickly from hand | | | | grades of:5th Dan Karate Jitsu |
| to hand and attacked from a variety of angles, | | | | 3rd Dan Ju Jitsu |
| slashing, lunging and really going for it. I successfully | | | | 1st Dan Freestyle Karate |
| disarmed him several times, but each time he had | | | | 1st Degree Tiger Claw Kung FuAlso studied the |
| also stabbed me several times (This is why the Police | | | | following arts without taking any grades: |
| and Prison service use riot shields and several officers | | | | Boxing, Muay Thai, JKD, Wrestling. |